Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Norway was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Ulveham" performed by Gåte. The Norwegian participating broadcaster Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 2024 between January and February 2024 in order to select its entry for the contest.

Eurovision Song Contest 2024
Participating broadcasterNorsk rikskringkasting (NRK)
Country Norway
National selection
Selection processMelodi Grand Prix 2024
Selection date(s)
  • Semi-finals:
  • 13 January 2024
  • 20 January 2024
  • 27 January 2024
  • Final:
  • 3 February 2024
Selected artist(s)Gåte
Selected song"Ulveham"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Semi-final resultQualified (10th, 43 points)
Final result25th, 16 points
Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2023 2024 2025►

Background

edit

Prior to the 2024 contest, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Norway sixty-two times since its first entry in 1960.[1] It had won the contest on three occasions: in 1985 with the song "La det swinge" performed by Bobbysocks!, in 1995 with the song "Nocturne" performed by Secret Garden and in 2009 with the song "Fairytale" performed by Alexander Rybak. Norway also had the two dubious distinctions of having finished last in the Eurovision final eleven times, more than any other country, and for having received nul points (zero points) four times, the latter being a record shared with Austria. Following the introduction of semi-finals for 2004, it had finished in the top ten ten times. In 2023, "Queen of Kings" performed by Alessandra qualified to the final and placed fifth, their best result in ten years.[1]

As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, NRK organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. NRK confirmed its intention to participate at the 2024 contest in April 2023, as it opened a songwriting camp for the national final Melodi Grand Prix, which had selected its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in all but one of its participations.[2]

Before Eurovision

edit
 

Melodi Grand Prix 2024

edit

Melodi Grand Prix 2024 was the 62nd edition of the Norwegian national final Melodi Grand Prix (MGP) which selected the Norwegian entry for the 2024 contest. The competition consisted of three semi-finals on 13, 20 and 27 January 2024 at the NRK studios in Marienlyst, and a final on 3 February 2024 at Trondheim Spektrum.[3] In each semi-final, six songs competed and the top three entries were selected to proceed to the final.[3][4]

Submissions were open between 9 June and 31 August 2023, with the list of 18 selected entries announced on 5 January 2024.[3][5] These included four past Norwegian Eurovision representatives: Benedicte Adrian as part of Mistra (1984, then part of Dollie de Luxe); Margaret Berger (2013); Keiino (2019); and Gaute Ormåsen as Super Rob (2022 as part of Subwoolfer).

Semi-finals

edit
  • The first semi-final took place on 13 January 2024. "We Come Alive" performed by Gothminister, "Eya" performed by Ingrid Jasmin and "Oblivion" performed by Margaret Berger advanced to the final, while "Woman Show" performed by Mathilde SPZ feat. Chris Archer and Slam Dunk [de], "Stranded" performed by Fredrik Halland and "Heart on Fire" performed by Myra were eliminated.
  • The second semi-final took place on 20 January 2024. "My AI" performed by Super Rob and Erika Norwich, "Judge Tenderly of Me" performed by Dag Erik Oksvold and Anne Fagermo and "Ulveham" performed by Gåte advanced to the final, while "Heartache" performed by Farida [de], "You're Mine" performed by Mileo and "Touch of Venus" performed by Eli Kristin [no] were eliminated.
  • The third semi-final took place on 27 January 2024. "Save Me" performed by Annprincess, "Green Lights" performed by Miia and "Damdiggida" performed by Keiino advanced to the final, while "Mer" performed by Vidar Villa [no], "Waltz of Death" performed by Mistra and "Take Me to Heaven" performed by Thomas Jenssen were eliminated.

Final

edit

The final took place on 3 February 2024.

Final – 3 February 2024[6][7]
Draw Artist Song Jury Televote Total Place
1 Keiino "Damdiggida" 98 146 244 2
2 Annprincess "Save Me" 16 17 33 9
3 Gothminister "We Come Alive" 35 80 115 4
4 Ingrid Jasmin "Eya" 22 20 42 8
5 Miia "Green Lights" 54 22 76 6
6 Margaret Berger "Oblivion" 26 19 45 7
7 Dag Erik Oksvold and Anne Fagermo "Judge Tenderly of Me" 58 47 105 5
8 Gåte "Ulveham" 76 174 250 1
9 Super Rob and Erika Norwich "My AI" 45 120 165 3

Promotion

edit

As part of the promotion of their participation in the contest, Gåte attended the Melfest WKND event in Stockholm on 8 March 2024,[8] the PrePartyES in Madrid on 30 March 2024 (though not in person),[9] the Barcelona Eurovision Party on 6 April 2024,[10] the London Eurovision Party on 7 April 2024,[11] the Eurovision in Concert event in Amsterdam on 13 April 2024,[12] and the Nordic Music Celebration's Eurovision Night in Oslo on 20 April 2024.[13] In addition, they performed at the Eurovision Village in Malmö on 4 May 2024.[14]

Calls for boycott

edit

The inclusion of Israel in the list of participants for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis resulting from Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip during the Israel–Hamas war sparked controversy in Norway as well as several other participating countries, with calls and petitions for broadcasters to boycott the event. Charlo Halvorsen [no], head of entertainment at NRK, initially stated that the broadcaster was following the decisions of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU),[15][16] ultimately commenting that it would not seek a "cultural boycott" of Israel in order not to "compromise [its] integrity" in response to demonstrations outside of NRK's headquarters on 5 January 2024, during the presentation of the MGP contestants.[17][18] Further demonstrations took place before the first and second semi-final of the event on 13 and 20 January, reiterating the calls for the exclusion of Israel in light of the number of casualties among journalists since the outbreak of the war and denouncing the targeting of Palestinian children; one of the protesters of 13 January, identified as Oslo city council member Jorunn Folkvord [no], broke in during the live broadcast saying that "Norway can do more".[19][20] In addition, a petition asking NRK for a boycott was launched by singers Marthe Valle and Marte Wulff, which was to be handed to the broadcaster after the third semi-final of MGP on 27 January; 530 artists were among the signatories by 12 March, including several past MGP entrants.[20][21][22] The winners of MGP, Gåte, also expressed initial uncertainty to take part in the competition due to the participation of Israel, but ultimately confirmed their presence at the contest.[23][24]

While not mentioning Israel's participation in the contest, on 29 March 2024, Gåte released a joint statement with other Eurovision 2024 entrants – namely Bambie Thug (Ireland), Iolanda (Portugal), Megara (San Marino), Mustii (Belgium), Nemo (Switzerland), Olly Alexander (United Kingdom), Saba (Denmark), Silvester Belt (Lithuania) and Windows95man (Finland) – calling for "an immediate and lasting ceasefire" in Gaza as well as the return of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.[25]

In early April 2024, three NRK authors announced their refusal to write the broadcaster's annual Eurovision review due to Israel's participation in the contest, demanding that NRK pressure the EBU to exclude the country.[26][27]

At Eurovision

edit

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 took place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consists of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 7 and 9 May and the final on 11 May 2024. All nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. On 30 January 2024, an allocation draw was held to determine which of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show, each country would perform in; the EBU split up the competing countries into different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.[28] Norway was scheduled for the second half of the second semi-final.[29] The shows' producers then decided the running order for the semi-finals; Norway was set to perform in position 15.[30]

In Norway, all three shows are being broadcast on NRK1, as well as on the broadcaster's streaming platform NRK TV [no], with commentary by Marte Stokstad [no]; the final will be aired on radio via NRK P1, with commentary by Jon Marius Hyttebakk.[31] Ahead of the contest, NRK organised and broadcast the traditional Eurovision preview show Adresse [no], under the title Adresse Malmø [no]; hosted by Stokstad, it consisted of five shows between 13 April and 4 May 2024, each featuring a panel composed of television personalities and members from the public who discussed and evaluated the competing entries, ultimately decreeing a favourite[32][33] – namely Italy's Angelina Mango with "La noia".[34] As part of the Eurovision programming, NRK also cooperated with DR and SVT alongside other EBU member broadcasters – namely ARD/WDR, the BBC, ČT, ERR, France Télévisions, NTR, RÚV, VRT and Yle – to produce and air a documentary titled ABBA – Against the Odds, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Sweden's first victory at the contest with "Waterloo" by ABBA.[35]

Performance

edit

Gåte took part in technical rehearsals on 30 April and 3 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 8 and 9 May.[36] The staging of their performance of "Ulveham" at the contest features smoke, lasers, and a spinning platform for the lead singer; the colour green is predominant.[37]

Semi-final

edit

Norway performed in position 15, following the entry from Israel and before the entry from the Netherlands.[30] At the end of the show, the country was announced as a qualifier for the final.

Final

edit

Following the semi-final, Norway was drawn to perform in the second half of the final.[38] Norway performed in position 14, following the entry from the United Kingdom and before the entry from Italy.[39]

Voting

edit

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to and by Norway in the second semi-final and in the final. Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding sets of points from 1-8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting in the final vote, while the semi-final vote was based entirely on the vote of the public.[40] The Norwegian jury consisted of Daniel Owen, Lars Horn Lavik, Annprincess Johnson Koffa, Lisa Stokke, and Gunilla Süssmann.[41] In the second semi-final, Norway placed 10th with 43 points, marking the country's seventh consecutive grand final qualification. In the final, Norway placed 25th and last with 16 points, resulting in the country's record-extending twelfth last place finish in the final, and first since 2012. Over the course of the contest, Norway awarded its 12 points to Israel in the second semi-final, and to Switzerland (jury) and Croatia (televote) in the final.[42][43]

NRK initially appointed Alessandra Mele, who represented Norway in the 2023 contest, as its spokesperson to announce the Norwegian jury's votes in the final.[44] Mele later withdrew from her role, with Ingvild Helljesen replacing her as spokesperson.[45] Mele cited Israel's participation in the contest despite the Israel–Hamas war as the reason for her withdrawal.[46]

Points awarded to Norway

edit

Points awarded by Norway

edit

Detailed voting results

edit

Each participating broadcaster assembles a five-member jury panel consisting of music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent. Each jury, and individual jury member, is required to meet a strict set of criteria regarding professional background, as well as diversity in gender and age. No member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently.[47] The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results were released shortly after the grand final.

The following members comprised the Norwegian jury:[41]

Detailed voting results from Norway (Semi-final 2)[42]
Draw Country Televote
Rank Points
01   Malta 14
02   Albania 13
03   Greece 10 1
04    Switzerland 4 7
05   Czechia 8 3
06   Austria 9 2
07   Denmark 2 10
08   Armenia 6 5
09   Latvia 5 6
10   San Marino 15
11   Georgia 12
12   Belgium 11
13   Estonia 7 4
14   Israel 1 12
15   Norway
16   Netherlands 3 8
Detailed voting results from Norway (Final)[43]
Draw Country Jury Televote
Juror A Juror B Juror C Juror D Juror E Rank Points Rank Points
01   Sweden 13 8 12 5 5 8 3 2 10
02   Ukraine 6 9 6 14 3 7 4 3 8
03   Germany 8 3 4 12 6 5 6 15
04   Luxembourg 11 12 11 19 14 16 20
05   Netherlands[a] 25 5 21 11 10 14 N/A
06   Israel 2 6 3 23 2 3 8 6 5
07   Lithuania 20 25 18 13 17 21 8 3
08   Spain 21 13 23 9 12 17 13
09   Estonia 24 10 14 22 13 18 14
10   Ireland 16 11 25 24 25 20 7 4
11   Latvia 5 20 9 18 7 11 9 2
12   Greece 4 14 10 6 18 9 2 18
13   United Kingdom 17 16 24 17 19 24 21
14   Norway
15   Italy 3 17 7 2 15 6 5 11
16   Serbia 18 21 13 20 20 22 19
17   Finland 23 24 22 25 22 25 10 1
18   Portugal 7 15 16 4 21 12 23
19   Armenia 9 2 2 8 11 4 7 12
20   Cyprus 14 18 17 21 23 23 17
21    Switzerland 1 4 1 7 1 1 12 5 6
22   Slovenia 15 19 20 16 16 19 24
23   Croatia 22 22 5 15 8 13 1 12
24   Georgia 12 23 15 3 9 10 1 22
25   France 10 1 8 1 4 2 10 4 7
26   Austria 19 7 19 10 24 15 16

Notes

edit
  1. ^ The Netherlands was disqualified prior to the final.[48][49]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Norway". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  2. ^ Grace, Emily (11 April 2023). "Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2024 Songwriting Camp Begins In Oslo". Eurovoix. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Norway's Melodi Grand Prix is heading back to its roots!". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  4. ^ Tangen, Anders Martinius (21 October 2023). "Mona Berntsen er ny sceneregissør for MGP og det bli finale 3.februar" [Mona Berntsen is the new stage director for MGP, and the final will be on February 3]. ESC Norge (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  5. ^ Stephenson, James (9 June 2023). "Norway: Submissions Open For Melodi Grand Prix 2024". Eurovoix. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  6. ^ Van Waarden, Franciska (29 January 2024). "Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2024 Final Running Order Announced". Eurovoix. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  7. ^ Abril, Ángela (3 February 2024). "Gåte gana la final del Melodi Grand Prix y representará a Noruega en Eurovision 2024" [Gåte wins the final of Melodi Grand Prix and will represent Norway in Eurovision 2024]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  8. ^ Granger, Anthony (5 March 2024). "Sweden: Gåte Joins the Melfest WKND 2024 Line-Up". Eurovoix. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  9. ^ Rico, Vicente (23 March 2024). "¡Los noruegos Gåte actuarán en remoto en la PrePartyES 2024!" [Norwegians Gåte will perform remotely at the PrePartyES 2024!]. Eurovision-Spain.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  10. ^ Granger, Anthony (5 March 2024). "Spain: Eleven 2024 Acts Confirmed For Barcelona Eurovision Party 2024 to Date". Eurovoix. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  11. ^ Grace, Emily (20 February 2024). "United Kingdom: Six Artists Confirmed For London Eurovision Party 2024 So Far". Eurovoix. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  12. ^ Dibben, Jazzi (25 February 2024). "Gåte to perform at Eurovision in Concert 2024". That Eurovision Site. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  13. ^ @nordicmusiccelebration (19 March 2024). "Exciting announcement: Gåte, Norway's Eurovision 2024 representative is set to join our concert! Don't miss their performance of «Ulveham» in Oslo on April 20th!". Retrieved 23 March 2024 – via Instagram.
  14. ^ Andersson, Rafaell (26 April 2024). "Eurovision 2024: Competing Acts to Perform at the Eurovision Village". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  15. ^ Losen, Sofie (5 December 2023). "Alessandra Mele - Kjærlighet er sterkere enn hat" [Alessandra Mele: Love is stronger than hate]. Se og Hør (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  16. ^ Stephenson, James (6 December 2023). "Norway: NRK is 'Following What the EBU Decides' on Israel". Eurovoix. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  17. ^ Edland, Gyrid Friis; Visker, Nora; Christensen, Siri B.; Hoen, Espen Sjølingstad (5 January 2024). "Demonstrasjon utenfor NRK før MGP-slipp: Ingen sier noe" [Demonstration outside NRK before release of MGP artists: "Nobody says anything"]. VG (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  18. ^ Katsoulakis, Manos (6 January 2024). "Norway: NRK will not boycott Israel's entry in Eurovision 2024!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  19. ^ Tjoflot, Eirin (13 January 2024). "Raudt-politikar kuppa MGP-sendinga" [Red Party politician takes over the MGP broadcast] (in Norwegian Nynorsk). NRK. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Ny demonstrasjon utanfor NRK mot Israel si deltaking i Eurovision" [New demonstration outside NRK against Israel's participation in Eurovision] (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. 20 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  21. ^ Alnes, Espen; Lillelien, Rikke; Muggerud, Julia (26 January 2024). "Åge Aleksandersen om Gaza: – Det som skjer er så stygt" [Åge Aleksandersen on Gaza: – What is happening is horrible] (in Norwegian Nynorsk). NRK. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  22. ^ Ighanian, Catherine Gonsholt (11 March 2024). "Over 4000 artister fra Norden vil ha boikott av Israel i Eurovision" [Over 4,000 artists from the Nordic countries want to boycott Israel in Eurovision]. VG (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  23. ^ Vedeler, Linda Marie (12 February 2024). "Gåte deltar i Eurovision Song Contest" [Gåte participates in the Eurovision Song Contest]. nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  24. ^ Abril, Ángel (15 February 2024). "Gåte confirma su participación y viajará finalmente a Malmö para representar a Noruega en Eurovisión 2024" [Gåte confirm their participation and will ultimately travel to Malmö to represent Norway in Eurovision 2024]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  25. ^ Mancheño, José Miguel (29 March 2024). "Varios artistas de Eurovisión 2024 firman un comunicado conjunto pidiendo un alto al fuego en Gaza" [Various Eurovision 2024 artists sign a joint statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  26. ^ Semb Aasmundsen, Jakob (8 April 2024). "NRK-anmeldere boikotter Eurovision. Blir trolig ikke anmeldelser, sier kanalen" [NRK reviewers boycott Eurovision. We will probably get no reviews, says the channel.]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Trolig ikke Eurovision-anmeldelser hos NRK etter anmelderboikott" [Probably no Eurovision reviews on NRK after reviewers' boycott] (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  28. ^ Van Dijk, Sem Anne (13 December 2023). "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Allocation Draw on January 30". Eurovoix. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  29. ^ "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Draw results". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Running Orders revealed!". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  31. ^ Svelstad, Oda Elise (30 April 2024). "Slik følgjer du Eurovision Song Contest på NRK" [This is how you follow the Eurovision Song Contest on NRK]. NRK Kultur og undergoldning (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  32. ^ Granger, Anthony (5 February 2024). "Norway: NRK Announces Adresse Malmø". Eurovoix. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  33. ^ Granger, Anthony (26 March 2024). "Norway: Adresse Malmø Guests & Song Reviews Order Revealed". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  34. ^ Granger, Anthony (4 May 2024). "Norway: Angelina Mango Wins Adresse Malmø". Eurovoix. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  35. ^ "Record number of EBU Members unite for new ABBA documentary". ebu.ch. EBU. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  36. ^ "Eurovision 2024: Rehearsal Schedule". Eurovisionworld. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  37. ^ Farren, Neil (30 April 2024). "Norway: All the Details About Gåte's First Rehearsal". Eurovoix. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  38. ^ "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Two Qualifiers Final Running Order Allocation". Eurovoix. 9 May 2024.
  39. ^ "Eurovision 2024: The Grand Final running order". Eurovoix. 9 May 2024.
  40. ^ "Voting Procedures 2024". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Grand Final of Malmö 2024 – Jurors". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  42. ^ a b c d "Results of the Second Semi-Final of Malmö 2024 – Norway". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  43. ^ a b c d "Results of the Final of Malmö 2024 – Norway". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  44. ^ Løland, Tuva Mathilde (10 May 2024). "Alessandra Mele deler ut Norges stemmer i Eurovision" [Alessandra Mele announces Norway's votes in Eurovision]. Nettavisen (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  45. ^ Ness Aksnes, Elise Violeta; Gaathaug Nielsen, Jonathan; Ryland, Ørjan (11 May 2024). "Trekker seg" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Dagbladet. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  46. ^ "Protesting Israel's inclusion, Norway singer won't announce country's points at Eurovision". Times of Israel. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  47. ^ "How the Eurovision Song Contest works". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  48. ^ "Statement on Dutch participation in the Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  49. ^ "How do I vote for my favourite Eurovision song?". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
edit